Public invited to City of Vernon budget meeting

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 13, 2013 1:00 AM

Vernon administrator Will Pearce calls the distribution of the overall 2014 budget package to mayor and council on Friday, Dec. 13, an early Christmas present. Mayor Rob Sawatzky joked that Pearce can expect an equivalent-type present from council. “This should keep you occupied over the Christmas season,” smiled Pearce, in reference to the start of the city’s 2014 financial planning timeline. That timeline includes a special council meeting Thursday, Sept. 26, slated from noon to 6 p.m., at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre. The meeting is open to the public, and could end earlier than scheduled. “It will be an opportunity to review and update for council the strategic priorities going into the final year of your elected terms,” said Pearce. “It’s an opportunity to update or amend those priorities.” The meeting will be done in a workshop style, and will also include department updates. The open meeting is also a chance for council to give staff guidance to the structure of the overall budget, which will be presented in package form in December. A date of Oct. 11 has been set as the deadline for submission of all budgets to the city’s finance department. The review of divisional budgets will run from Oct. 30 to Nov. 8. In 2014, from Jan. 15 to 17, full-day sessions will take place to review the budget with mayor and council.